THE LAST PHI HUNTER

An exciting debut fantasy novel set in a Thai-inspired world, about a "cinnamon roll" demon slayer as he escorts the prince's consort through the spirit-infested wilds. It is utterly unputdownable - think The Witcher meets Princess Mononoke -, brimming with humor, heart, and a healthy amount of action and forbidden romance.

Ex, the youngest member of the Phi Hunters Orders, has spent his life slaying the ghosts and demons of the Suyoram Kingdom. While he takes great pride in his mystical trade, collecting dwindling bounties and peddling spirit organs lacks the glory and respect he so desperately craves. For ever since his parents rebelled against the crown, Ex has been marked, often ridiculed for his traitorous bloodline, and so he is determined to prove himself worthy of the Hunters, who have become his family, and worthy of the Kingdom. To that end, he dreams of hunting down the most legendary demon, Shar-Ala. A demon of nightmares, of madness - one that has eluded even Ex's masters, and hasn't been seen for decades. After getting ripped off by another stingy client, Ex finds himself on the wrong side of a bar fight when Arinya, a charming muay boran boxing champion, saves him from an ass-kicking, despite being nine months pregnant. In return, she asks him to escort her through the dangerous, spirit-filled forest, where ghosts salivate over the scent of the unborn. But Arinya has her secrets. When they're attacked by agents of the crown, Arinya confesses that she's the prized consort of the crown prince, and the new queen is seeking to kill her - and her unborn child - to eliminate all potential usurpers. While Ex isn't thrilled about this turn of events, a promise is a promise, and he vowed to get her home. Besides, he can't deny the simmering attraction between them. A messy attraction, for while Arinya may not return the prince's affection, she is completely off-limits to a poor phi hunter like Ex. But as more of Arinya's secrets emerge and they get closer to the elusive demon Shar-Ala, Ex must face dangers from both men and monsters, or lose not only the respect of the Phi Hunters, but the Hunters themselves, along with the woman he's falling in love with. THE LAST PHI HUNTER is a vibrant and cinematic fantasy that's a delight to get lost in. Salinee Goldenberg's world feels immense, the kind of place where new discoveries lurk around every corner, be they demon or spirit, ally or enemy. And while this book certainly doesn't shy away from darkness, it is wonderfully fun, as hero Ex is kind, big-hearted, quick to make mistakes, and so easy to root for. Salinee Goldenberg is a multimedia artist and musician living in Washington D.C. In addition to writing novels, she produces videos and animations, paints, and plays in bands. Formerly she worked at Bethesda Softworks, creating narrative trailers for all their properties, including Skyrim and Fallout 4. She has noticed a distinct underrepresentation of Southeast Asian speculative fiction, and hopes to be one of the many to correct that.